Chantecler eBook

CHANTECLER

Play in Four Acts
By
EDMOND ROSTAND

Translated
ByGertrudehall

1910

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ChanteclerPatoutheblackbirdthepeacocktheNightingalethegrand-Dukethescreech-Owllittlescopsthegame-cockthehuntingdog
A carrier-pigeonthewood-peckertheTurkeytheducktheyoungGuinea-cockthepheasant-hentheGuinea-hentheoldhenthewhitehenthegreyhentheblackhenthespeckledhenthetuftedhen

A Gander. A Capon. Chickens. Chicks.
A Cockerel.
A Swan. A Cuckoo. Night-birds. Fancy
Cocks.
Toads. A Turkey-hen. A Goose. A Garden
Warbler.
A Woodland Warbler. A Spider. A Heron.
A Pigeon.
A Guinea-pig. Barnyard animals. Woodland
Creatures.
Rabbits. Birds. Bees. Cicadas.
Voices.

PROLOGUE

The customary three knocks are heard. The
drop-curtain wavers and is rising, when a voice rings
out, “Not yet!” and themanager,
a gentleman of important mien in evening dress,
springing from his proscenium box, hurries toward
the stage, repeating, “Not yet!"

The curtain is again lowered. Themanagerturns toward the audience, and resting one hand
on the prompter’s box, addresses them:

The curtain is a wall,—­a flying wall.
Assured that presently the wall will fly—­why
haste? Is it not charming to delay—­and
just look at it for a while?

Charming to sit before a great red wall, hanging beneath
two gilt masks and a scroll—­The thrilling
moment is when the curtain thrills, and sounds come
from the other side.

You are desired to-night to listen to those sounds
and entering the scene before you see it, to wonder
and surmise—­

Bending his ear, themanagerlistens
to the sounds now beginning to come from behind the
curtain.

A footstep—­is it a road? A flutter
of wings—­is it a garden?

The curtain here rippling as if about to rise,
themanagerprecipitately shouts, “Stop!—­Do
not raise it yet!” Then again bending his ear,
continues making note of the noises, clear or confused,
single or combined, that from this onward come without
stop from behind the curtain.

A magpie cawing flies away. Great wooden shoes
come running over flags. A courtyard, is it?—­If
so above a valley—­from whence that softened
clamour of birds and barking dogs.